Loose-leaf binder



Dec. 7 1926. l',60,885

v w. s. PROUDFIT ET A1.

Lopsa LEAF BINDER Filed July 28. 1 923 4 sheets-Sheen 1 l i l 2P i255? 2,3 2* i Dec. 7,1926.

. 1,609,885 W. S. PROUDFIT ET AL LOOSE LEAF BINDER F/led July 28. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 7 1926.

W. S. PROUDFIT ET AL LoosE LEAF BINDER Filed July 28, 1923 4 sheets-sheet s W. PROUDFIT ET AL LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed July 28, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f mw if 7 Maw fi a@ Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

llllTED STATES Y 1,609,885 PArENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM S. PROUDFIT, OFVALKER TOW'NSHIP, KENT COUNTY', AND EDWARD GRAF, OF GRAND RAPBS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO PRODFIT LOOSE LEAF CO.,

.A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN. Y

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed July 28,

Our invention relates to loose leaf binders in which thin, flat laterally resilient bands preferably made of highly tempered steel are attached to the covers with an intermediate leaf carrying portion spanning the space between the covers; the movement of the covers serving to flex the intermediateleaf holding portion so that the leaf body will be carried up from the back of the book when the covers are open, and oppositely into the back of the book when the covers are closed; and the objects of our invention are; first, to make a loose leaf binder in which the leaves will lie flat with a compact and easily manipulated means for detaching and adding leaves; second, to provide a clamping means on the covers for the edges of the leaf carrying bands; third, to positively guide the leaf carrying bands from the binding edge of the cover at a right angle thereto; fourth, to providev a passage along the cover outside the clamps for portions of plies of the leaf carrying bancs not contained vor embraced in the clamps; lifth, to make an economical and practical case to facilitate the assembling of the mechanical parts of the binder and to hold them in their operating position; sixth, to detachably connect a cross bar to the ends of the leaf carrying bands whereby they may all be adjusted simultaneously; seventh, to irovide a lock for the clamping mechanism and other features to become apparent from the description to follow.

lVe attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view cf the inner face ofone cover of a binder embodying` our invention partly broken away; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of such binder in an open position; F 8 is an enlarged plan View of a detachable con nection for a cross bar at the eXtreme ends of the leaf carrying bands; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig.

il; Figs. 5, 6l and 7 are detail views of t-heV parts shown in Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the clamps without a lock for holding the leaf carrying bands, enlarged, removed from the cover and showing the bands tightly clamped in position, part-ly broken away; Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig.

1923. Serial No. 654,398.

1 showing both covers in an ope-n position and the leaf carrying bands locked in a position looped up between the binding' edges of the covers in position to detach or add leaves; Fig. 11 is a sectional View taken on line 11-7-11 of Fig. 8, showing the manner of fasteninga cover plate to the base plate between which the mechanism is mounted; Fig 12 is a detail perspective View of aclamp for the leaf carrying bands; detached; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the leaf carrying. bands clamping mechanism with a lock partly broken away to expose the key operated locking mechanism showing the same in an unlocked position; Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the key operated locking mechanism in a locked posi-- tion; Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on linel-V-l of Fig. 14; Figs. 16 and 17 are` detail views of parts of the key locking mechanism shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 detached; Fig. 18 is a detail View of a portion of a cover plate showing the key hole; Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the key used. to operate the lock; Fig. 20, is a perspective view showing the` metal plate secured to the fly leaf; Fig. v21, is a perspective View showing a filler plate used in connection .with the lock, and Fig. 22, is a similar view showing av filler plate used without a lock. Sin'iilar reference characters refer to-similar parts throughout theV several views.v

The covers 19 which may be constructed of the usual binders board or any other suitable material, arehinged to the curved back 2O at Q1 and haveV rigidly secured thereto the met-al base plate 22, the rip-turned edge ofv which at 23 forms the binding' edge of the cover as clearly shown in Fig. 10. The vhinge 21 is located. a short distance back from the binding edge 23 to assist in forcing the bound edges of the leaves upward into a curve as shown in Fig. 2. Metal plates Q4,`provided with slots 25 for the leaf carrying bands 25, sce Figs. 2, 2O and 10, are preferably secured to the binding edges of the fly leaves 28 adjacent to the covers to preventv abrasion of the leaves. The plates 24 may be secured to the fly leaves by folding the binding edge ofthe fly .leaf around the plate and securing the same on the opposite side thereof by means of spurs 24 provided on the edge of the plate 24.

rlhe 'leaf carryingbands '25 are preferably made `of thin, flat strips ol' spring steel, being stiff edgeyvise and laterally resilient and longitudinally noneXtensible. One stripl of steel may be used for each band but We prefer to'use for each band a plurality ot' these spring steel strips, one placed on top of the other, as this construction increases the strenfth of the bands and prevents them from lrinlzing more especially at the bind.- ing edges of the cover when the covers are opened andiclosed. Y lt also provides a means or lincrea-singYthe., stiffness of these bands by adding-more plies o'spring` steel strips as 'the size of the leaf body incre-ases. lith this construction itis necessary to provide a means whereby these sev-eral plies-oit spring steel strips will adjust themselves longitudinally upon each other as the bands are liexed back 'andl forth With the movement of the covers. To provide this longitudinalv adjustment We clamp only the plynext to the cov-er rigidly `to the cover 'and provide a free passage over the clamps and a loose connection to the cover foi-the other plies as hereinafter shown, thus permitting the different plies of the band 25 to move upon each other longitudinallyll-he extremities or the bands 25 are mountedion the inner surfaces ot' the covers 'with an intermediate portion for carrying the leg-ves Flyingbetween the covers, The extremities ot' the bands 25-attach'ed to the covers 19 move in unison with 'the covers as the bind-'er is openedandclosed, forcing the intermediate leaf. carrying port-ion of vthe ban-ds `to 'assume a convex form when the covers are closed, parallel With the curved back 20, and when the covers 'are opened 'the intermediate portion is carried in an 0plposite curve up and away from the back by themovement of; the covers so that the binding edge of; the leaf body when the covers are closed is convex in `form and when the covers-are ropen it is concave in `:t-orni. The bands 25 positively carry the leal1 body 26 with them as they assume these different formsv` This action permits the 'usable portion ofthe leaves of the binder to lie flat lWhen it is open for use. The sheets 26 rvare providedl with suitable T-shaped notches in their binding-edges to register with and receive the bands 25.

The bands 25 are slidably 'connected to the covers `l9and to securely bind the leaf body or thev binder when in nor-mal. position for use the bands are drawn up so that vthe binding edges of the covers press lagainst the leal body, and the bands are then clamped to the cover as hereinafter shown.I To remove or add sheets the binder is opened byunclamping the bands 25 when they7 maybe drawn up into a loop between the cover by pulling' on the ily leall 23, and clamped in position as shown in K lVhen in this position 'the leaves so may be slid along` on the bands to any 4l place on the bands and sheets may be vuthdraivn or added yby means oit' the T- shaped notches in the leaves26 in the usual way. Y

The mechanism Jfor clamping the bands tothe cover 19 (see Figs. l, 2, 8, 9, l0 and l2), may be the same on both covers and comprises a piroted cam 27 which, When turned in one direction, Will bring pressure aga-inst the edge oftthe band 25, and when turned in the opposite direction Will release suc-h pressure. rllhe cam 27 may Contact directly vwith the-band 25 but We prefer-to loosely en l iiiositely t .gosedembracing clamps '29 and to interposebetween one member oi' the clamp 29and the-cam 27 a bearing" shoe 28. The clamp 29 comprises twoduplicate oppositely ldisposed members 29a eachor. Which "folded at29b to emlfirace loosely one edge oftthe hot-tom ply ofthe band-25 and overlap thetop and bottom surfaces ot the ply for a major vdistance in Width. The bottom part 290 of each member is Vprovided with longitudinal end extensions 29d bent doivn as at 29e andfadaptedfto be guided-and held in place slidably byu'pturned lips 30 formed on the 'b'asevplatei22- Y The clamps 29 areplaced lon the plate 22 ivith their band-engaging surfaces in aline at right angles to the binding edge oil the 'coi/'ers 19, so Ythat the clamps positively Yforce the intermediate leal' carryingportiou oi-the bands 25 Ato depart` iromthe-covers 19 at right angles to tl e. bindino` edges of said lcovers. This keeps the leaf body 26 'in aligmnentfand prevents it from sagging When the binder-is stood on its end.

llt isa great-advantage in loose leaft'binders 'ot this type to provide a very thin and compact adjusting mechanismv lor the leal holdingv members sol-as to permit the use of thin covers for the binder; le have thereforeadapted the cam 27 to svvi-nph in a plane parallel Withfthe surface of the cover 1.9, and to lpress the clampingl members 29 against the edges 'ot the bands 25, as this permits avery thin'and flat-construction of the mechanism. The overlappingA portions vof the clamps 29 prevent the band from bucklingwhenV pressure is brought against its edges.

lllhile each` cam27 may be provided with handle orlever With which tov turn it, We prefer-to provide an intermediate pivoted gear 3l between each pair of cams 27 cio-operating 'ivithditferent bands The gear 3lv is provided With'` anfoperatingl'i'andl'e and-meshes with` the segmental gears provided on the adjacent cams 27 so that a movement ot handle 32 to the left will 'move the two Vco-operatingcams 27 in the proper direction. for gripping tivo adse 'the-bands 125 in a pair of op-V lof:

jacent bands 25. Where three bands 25 are used to hold the leaves as shown .1n the drawings the clamping mechanism may be positioned on each side of the center band,

the mechanism on one side being adapted to clamp one of the outside bands only by omitting the cam 27 and the bearing shoe 28 adjacent to the central band, and the other mechanism being adapted to clamp the reiaining two bands. In this way the clamping mechanism may be adapted to operate number' of leaf holding` bands'. The rivets 33 are provided to secure the base plate 22 to the cover 19.

rhe cams 27 and pivoted gear 31 are assembled over the hollow cylindrical pivots 33 turned up from the base plate 22.

s clearly seen in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15 a cover plate 34 is secured to the base plate 22 to cover the band clamping mechanism. The two opposite edges of the plate are provided with a plurality of narrow extensions 35 and 36, see Fig. 11, vwhich hav their extremities extending through registering slots provided therefor in the plate 22 and clamped on the under side of it to rigidly secure the two plates together.

filler strip 37 is provided between the cams 27 and gear 31 and the cover plate 34 to hold t-he plate 34 spaced from the clamp 29 a sucient distance to permit the free passage of one or more plies of the leaf carrying band 25. rThe filler 37 is retained in position by having an integral lateral extension 38 which enters the hollow cylindrical pivots 33 of the cams 27 and the gea-r 31. The securing of the cover plate 34 into position retains the parts 27, 28, 31 and 37 in their assembled positions. rEhe coverplate 34 is provided with perforations 34 to register with one end of the clamps 29 to enable viewing the different plies of the leaf holding band 25 during the assembling process.

To enable the operator to adjust simultan eously all the leaf carrying bands 25, the ends of the bands are detachably connected Vto a bar 39, see Figs. 1 and 3 to 7, by means of a clip 40. At a proper distance from their ends all the plies of the bands 25 are provided with a perforation 41 into which a small upward extending lug 42 provided on bar 39 projects. The bar 39 is provided with :r slot 39" to receive the ends of the bands 25, and to insure the lug 42 remaining in the perforations 41 the ends 43 of the U shaped clip 40 are also inserted into the slot 39 of bar 39 underlying the end of the bands 25. The clip 40 has a downwardly extending lug 44 which enters the perforation 41 of the bands 2. The clip 49 is made of spring' steel and to detach the same the part carrying the lug 44 is lifted by means of the upturned ears 44 to withdraw the lug 44 from the perforation 41 permitting the clip ends 43 to be withdrawn from the slot 39 in the bar 39, thus freeing the bands 25 so that they may be detached from the bar 39. It will be noted that the bar 39 connects the ends of all the bands 25 on one cover so that by manipulating bar o9 all of the bands 25 on the one cover 19 may be adjusted simultaneously. The perforations 41 are made larger than the lugs 42 and 44 to permit the several plies of the bands 25 to move longitudinallyv upon each other.

Then it is desired to lock the binder against manipulation by an unauthorized person, the locking mechanism illustrated in Figs. 13 to 19 is employed. The gear 31 is provided with two diametrically opposed upwardly extending lugs 45 arranged to extend into co-operating slots 46, provided in the floating ring 47 which is located within a hole 48 provided therefor in the filler strip 37. One side'of the ring 47 is provided with ratchet teeth 49 to co-operate with other ratchet teeth 50 on the inner periphery of the hole 48 in the filler strip 37. Y The ratchet teeth 49 and 50 are so arranged that when in engagement with one another. the Heating ring 47 be moved clockwise but .are prevented from being moved non-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 13, 14 and 17. A leaf spring 51 is mounted on the strip 37 to constantly tend to move the ring 47 in a direction to have the teeth 49 engage the teeth 50. Y

In Fig. 13 the ring 47 is shown as being held in a .position against the tension of spring 51 with its teeth 49 disengaged from the teeth 59 so that the lock is in its unlocked condition, and the ring 47 and lever are free to be moved in either direction to the left or to the right. 1t is obvious that the ring 47 is carried either in one direction or the other by the movement of the lever 32, since the lugs 45 on gear 31 integral with lever 32 extend into slots 46 of the ring 47. in F i0'. 14 the ring` 47 is shown as being forced. into a position by a spring 51 with its teeth 49 engaging the teeth 5() so that the lock is in its locked condition and the lever 32 is free to be moved to the left but is locked against movement to the right.

To move the ring 47 into its locked or unlocked position, a revolving cam disc 52 is employed which is pivoted about a pintle 53 pivotally mounted on the base plate 22, and projecting up tl'n'ough the keyhole in plate 34 where it is provided with the usual key-slot. The Acam pla-te 52 is `provided on its periphery withv the cam surface 55 arranged to engagethe extension 56 on the inner periphery of the ring 47, located diametrically opposite to the ratchet teeth 49, so that when the cam surface 55 is engaging` the extension 56 the teeth 49 on ring 47 will be 'disengaged from the teeth 50 on and lever are free tollO the strip 37. rlhus it is clear that ivlientlie plate 52 is turned to have its cam surface'y 55 engage the extension -56 on ring: et?, the parts will be in an unlocked position and when the plate is turned tosliave its cam surface 55 out oi enga ginent vwith thorsten:- sion 56 on ring el?, the parts Willrbe in lan unlocled position. 'l`o turn the f -anrplate 52 from one position to thev other, a -liey 57 is employed and thecam plate is pr vided vf'th suitable cut out portions to liti the key.

The pintle 53 provided with a circumferent-iai shoulder 53 to 'trictionally press the cani plate against the cover plate 234i, thereby preventing` the cani plate trom being turned by any means except. the ltey which tits.

Having thus fully described our invention what We claim neu7 and desire toseeure by Letters Patent ot the United States is l.. lu a loose leal binder cover provided with a binding edge, a 'fiat laterally resilient edgewise still lealf carrying band sl'idably connected to said cover, cobperatin-g clamping members movably connected to said cover arranged to loosely embrace said lea't carrying band and means lor pressingsaid clamping members against the edges io't said leat1 carrying band.

2. ln a loose leat binder, a. cover-provided with a binding edge, a fiat laterally resilientedgewise stili leat' carrying band slidL ably connected to said cover, cfr-operating clamping members movably connectedV to said cove: arranged to loosely embrace said leal carry i band,4 and meanst'or pressing said clamping members against the edge volf said leali carrying band, comprising an eccentric lever connected to said cover and swinging in a plane parallel with t-he plane oi said cover.

8.111 a loose loaf binder a cover provided with a binding edge, a fiat laterally resilient leal carrying band slidably connected to said cover, 'co-operating clamping members movably connected to said cover arranged to loosely embrace said lea-f carrying' band, and means for pressing said clamping members against the edges ot said leat' carrying band comprisingv aA leverv Connected to said cover and swinging in a plane parallel With the plane ol said cover and a bearing shoe interposed bet-Ween said lever and one oi said co-operating clamping members, said shoe being arranged to be eccentrically actuated by said lever.

ln a loose leat binder, a cover provided with a binding edge, a flat laterally resilient le'at carrying band slidably Connected to said cover, co-operating clamping members movably connected to said 'cover are ranged to loosely embrace said leaf carrying band, .and means for pressing said clamping members against the edge ot' said leal carrying band, comprising a gear havleerla-885 ain integral lever'c'onnected to said cover l movig in a plane parallel with the plane oiV said cover, a gea-red, piece mounted eceentrieallv actuated bv said lever and aV bearingshoc interposed between said geared piece and one of sait co-operating clamping ln'ienibe s, said slice being adapted to be moved to `bring pressure against the edge ot said clamping member to clamp the leat carrying band.

5 ln a loose leat binder. i cover provided bin-:ling edge, a dat laterally resilient en'ise stili lear carrying band extending' lit angles 'trom the binding edge ot slida ny' connected to said cover, .mping members movably co-operzdingr cla connect-ed 'to e' ibr-acesaid iea't carrying band and means ypressing one oi said clamping members f the edge olf said leaf carrying band,

lil@

the

1 cover. v

'(5. ln a loose leal binder, a. cover provided with a lower and upper plate with a tree ce between them, the edge of the lower l te constituting the binding edge of said cover and having a lip turned ydown therefrom, the upper plate being positioned a shortdistance back from the binding edge or the lower plate and having a lip turned npithe'retromto register With the lip turned down troni the -lo-Wer plate, a leai' carrying bznid composed o ay plurality 'ot plies slidably connected to said cover extending vbetween said lips into the tree space between said plates, co-operating clamping members movably connected to said lower plate and arranged to 'loosely embrace one o said plies, means "tor pressing said clamping members against the edge ot said ply and a lree space between: said` clamping members andl said upper plate arranged toY permit et the passage ot the other plies.

- 7. ln a loose leaf binder, a cover provided with a lower and upper plate .vith a tree space between them, leat carrying bandsand clamping mechanism therefor arranged between said plates, and means tor fastening said plates 'together' in position comprising orifices in `one of said platesvand lugs ei;- tending trom the other of said plates to enter said orilices, said plates being adapted to hold the said clamping mechanism in assembled position. Y

8. ln a loose leaf binder, a cover having a plate fastened thereto, a lea't carrying band and clamping means therefor carried on said plate, said-clamping means comprising tivo co-operating bent members arranged to embrace the edges oi" said lea't' carrying band and each ot'said members having a laterally outward extending portion, apertures in said plate adapted to red cover arranged to Yloosely ceive said laterali;Y extending portions and slidably engage them with the under side of said plate.

S). in a loose leal binder, a cover, leaf l ca tying bands' spaced apart and running along tie inner surface of said cover, a bar at the ends of said bands and means for detachably fastening said bandsto said bar comprising holes in the ends of said bands, upward turned lugs on said bar to enter said holes and an overlying detachable spring latching clip pro'i-ided with a downward extending lng to enter said holes, and slots in said bar arranged to receive a portion of said clip and leaf carrying bands to retain them in position.

10. In a loose leaf binder, suitable covers, thin fiat laterally springy edgewise stiff leaf carrying bands connecting the covers and adjustably connected to one of Said covers and means on the cover for clamping the said strips edgewise.

11. In a loose leaf binder, suitable covers, thin flat springy leaf carrying bands connecting the covers and adjnstably connected to one of said covers, clamps on the cover for clamping said strips edgewise and means at the clamps to prevent the strips from buckling when clamped.

12. In a loose leaf binder, suitable covers provided with metallic binding edges bent upwardly from the plane of the cover, a back hinged to the covers a short distance from the bent up binding edges, thin flat springy leaf carrying bands connecting the covers and adjnstably connected to one of said covers and means on the cover for clamping the said bands edgewise, said hinges being so located with respect to the bent up binding edges that the portion of the leaf carrying bands between the binding edges of the covers will be forced downward into a curve when the covers are closed and will be forced upward into a curve when the covers are opened.

13. In a loose leaf binder, suitable covers, thin flat springy leaf carrying bands connecting the covers and adjustably connected to one of said covers, clamping means on the cover for clamping the said strips edgewise and a key operated lock for locking said clamping means against operation.

14. In a loose leaf binder, suitable covers, thin flat springy leaf carrying bands connecting the covers and adjustably connected to one of said covers, clamping means on the cover for clamping said bands edgewise in their adjusted position, means associated with said clamping means to prevent the bands from buckling when clamped and a key operated lock for locking said clamping means against operation. Y

15. In a loose leaf binder, suitable covers provided with metallic binding edges bent upwardly from the plane of the cover, a

back hinged to the covers a short distance from the bent up binding edges, thin flat springy leaf carrying bandsconnecting the covers and adjnstably connected to oneof said covers, clamping means on the cover for clamping the said bands edgewise, a key operated lock on the cover for locking said clamping means and said hinges being so located with respect to the bent up binding edges that the portion of the leaf carrying bands between the binding edges of the covers will be forced downward into a curve when the covers are closed and will be forced upward into a curve when the covers are opened.

16. In a loose leaf binder, suitable covers, thin flat springy leaf carrying bands connecting' the covers and adjustably connected to one of said covers, means on the cover for clamping the said strips edgewise comprising a pivoted swinging lever and a key operated lock on the cover for locking said lever against movement in one direction.

17. In a loose leaf binder, suitable covers, thin flat springy leaf carrying bands connecting the covers and adjustably connected to one of said covers, clamping means on the cover for clamping said bands edgewise in their adjusted position comprising a pivoted swinging lever, a key operated lock on the cover for locking said lever against movement in one direction and means associated with the clamping means to prevent the bands from buckling when clamped.

18. In a loose leaf binder, suitable covers provided with metallic binding edges bent upwardly from the plane of the cover, a back hinged to the covers a short distance from the bent up binding edges, thin flat springy leaf carrying bands connecting the covers and adjustably connected to one of said covers, clamping means on the cover for clamping the said band edgewise comprising a pivoted swinging lever, a. key o perated lock on the cover for locking said lever against movement in one direction and said hinges being so located with respect to the bent up binding edges that the portion of the leaf carrying bands between the binding edges of the covers will be forced downward into a curve when the covers are closed and will be forced upward into a curve when the covers are opened.

19. In a loose leaf binder, covers, thin flat springy leaf carrying bands connecting the covers and adjustably connected to one of said covers, means for clamping the said bands edgewise and to prevent the bands from buckling when clamped comprising` a U shaped clamp member mounted on the cover to move laterally but held against movement longitudinally and means for moving' the clamp member tightly against the edge of the band.

20.v In a loose leaf binder, covers, thin flat llO springy lent carrying lmnds'eonneeting the 'covers and. ndjiistably eonnec'ted to one ot said covers, meas mounted on the cover 'for clamping said band edggl'ewise and te prevent it 'from buckling*` when clamped eon'iprising; n fixed U shaped elzimp'member and u mov- :ible U shaped clump member' mounted to have lateral movement but held zigeii'xst longitudinal movement and means comprising :i pivoted @am for moving said Clamp member tightly against the edge of said strip.

21:. In a loose leaft binder, covers` a: thin flat springy leaf 'carrying band connecting the covers and adjustably Connected. to one of said'eovers, meal-ns mounted on the @over to clamp said band' edgewise and to prei-ent it from buckling Whenclamped eon'xprisine; a U shaped Clamp member n'iovable laiterelly but held against movement longitiiidi nelly, means Comprising apivoted lever iter loreing seid Clamp member against the edge ot the strip and 2t lief7 Operated lock Vtor locking' said lever against movement.

22. In :i loose lent' binder, covers, thin liet laterally springy edgewise stiff leafearrying bands Connecting` the covers and adjnstablji,7 connected to one of seid covers, and means on the @over for clamping' the bends edgeivise and positively forcing' the bands to a position extending from the cover al right ingles to the bindingedge ot the cover.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification this 15th day ot May, 1923, at Grand Rapids, Michigan.

EDV/TARD F. GRAF. VILLIAM S. PROUDFlT.

lie in 

